Ski Camp Leftovers

Thanks to all for a great ski camp ...

To the Pierces for hosting,
To John Tarling for coaching,
To Jason for assisting,
and to all the kids for being such great sports!

Two items were left in the van:
A pair of black Swany gloves
A pair of Salomon combi boots (size 10 or 10.5?)

Let Susan know if these belong to you.

Coming home ...

We are still on track to leave Rangeley around 3:00 this afternoon.  This should put us at Desert Rd between 5:30 and 6:00, however if road conditions are poor we will drive more slowly and will arrive somewhat later.

Looking forward to seeing everyone late this afternoon!

Check-in from Christmas Camp

Greetings from up north!

Everyone is alive and well with all limbs intact!  We are expecting some snow tonight and plan to ski twice tomorrow.  Our intention is to be home in time for dinner, so as of now we are planning to leave around 3:00 on Monday.  Hopefully this will put us back at Desert Rd around 5:30ish.

I will update the blog on Monday morning, as well as send along an email to parents, letting everyone know our plans for the day.

Happy snow!

Christmas Camp - TOMORROW!

Last minute info for Christmas Camp ...

Please be at Desert Rd at 7:45 Friday morning.  We would like to pull away by 8:00.

We will ski upon arrival, before heading to the condo, so everyone should:

• Come dressed in your ski gear
• Bring a snack to eat in the van
• Keep your SKATE boots/skis/poles handy
• Have your water bottle-belt handy

Other things to remember:

• Wax skis
• Bring lunch
• Check the packing list

See everyone tomorrow morning!

Christmas Camp Info

Hello Nordic Ski Families,

As you know, very shortly after Christmas, the MWS Nordic team will have the opportunity to attend a 3 night/4 day ski training camp in Rangeley.   Some important information about camp is outlined below—please read carefully and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Susan or Sarah.  There will be other information posted on the blog closer to the departure time, so please continue to check that!

1.     Camp location:  Saddleback Mtn Ski Area, Pierce Family lodging at Rock Pond Condo unit#34. 

2.     Travel logistics/chaperones:  A Merriconeag van (maybe 2) and several cars will be leaving Desert Rd in the morning (exact time TBD) on Friday, December 27^th and returning the afternoon of December 30^th.  We will send an email on the morning of December 30^th, letting parents know our approximately return time home.  Chaperones for the trip are Dan and Sarah Pierce, Jason Donahue, Susan Sonntag and John Tarling.

3.     Food:  Skiers should pack a lunch for the first day and should bring bars or other handy snacks to carry while on the trails.  Healthy meals will be provided for the remainder of the trip.  If you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, please let Susan know ASAP.  (If any family would like to send along cookies, brownies or bars, it would be greatly appreciated)!

4.     Packing List:  A full packing list is posted on the blog in a separate post.

5.     Contact information:  There is no landline at the condo and cell phone reception is not very reliable.  We can, however, receive emails/texts so this is the best way to communicate with us during the weekend.  (Dan 776-0503, Sarah 776-4959, John T. 807-1919)

6.     We will assess the cost per family upon our return and families will be billed.  Costs will include food, trail passes and gas, and are estimated to be not more than $125.

7.     Questions?  Ask Sarah or Susan.

8.     We are really looking forward to a fun, healthy and safe trip for everyone!

Christmas Camp Note from John

Looking forward to the camp, thanks to the Pierce family for hosting.  I expect the skiing to be good as it is going to turn cold after this weekend.  I would like all the skiers to prepare their skis before arrival.

Classic skis:

• Clean kick zone
• Sand kick zone lightly with a 100g sand paper or scotchbrite
• Wax tips and tails with a cold glide wax (ex. swix blue CH6 or equivalent)
• Brush

Skate skis

• Clean and wax with same CH6 or equal
• Brush 

Having skis ready will save time.  We will add kick wax in Rangeley before skiing.  I always encourage skiers to take responsibility for their skis, so everyone should bring a cold hard kick wax and glide wax along with scraper and cork.

Make sure to have cold weather ski clothing, as we will see very low temps at least some of the days.  This includes warm gloves or mitts, neck warmer, extra hat and warm ups are essential.  Also a water bottle and HOLDER are important along with an energy bar/snack to bring during the ski.  We should plan on two skis per day along with a short morning run. The run is to be easy and intended to get us going before breakfast.  I am thinking a morning AM ski to be 10-12 or so and afternoon PM  2-3:30.

Thanks,

John

Christmas Camp Packing List

CHRISTMAS CAMP 2013 PACKING LIST...

Plan to bring classic and skate skiing, hiking, and running gear.

LABEL ALL THE GEAR AND CLOTHES YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE.

Must have:

• Lunch for the first day

• Snacks for the 4 days (to be stashed in your water bottle belt). Bars are ideal.

• Sleeping bag + pillow (not everyone will need a pillow, but we'll need some).

• Towel

• Workout clothes for 4 days for the activities listed above.

• Multiple pairs of socks

• Hats, gloves, etc. - you will need WARM gloves

• Neck warmer

• Plan on layers!

• Warm snow boots

• Apres-ski clothes for evenings + indoor shoes or slippers if you want something on your feet inside

• Pajamas

• Toiletries

• Headlamp

• Classic AND skate skis, poles, boots - packed as compactly as possible.

• Water-bottle holder with a water bottle - ideally the kind that you can wear around your waist that also has a pocket for a snack

• Basic wax equip

o   Scraper

o   Cork

o   Small amounts of cold, hard kick wax and glide wax

Optional:

• Books, games, etc. - If you have a good group game, please bring it!

• A movie for the group - G, PG or PG-13 (no R movies)

• Cookies, brownies, etc.

A note about electronics ... 

-       Cell phones/ipods may come on this trip

-       Laptops should remain at home

-       Chaperones will be mindful of any cell phones or ipods getting too tired on this trip - after all, it's their vacation too - and so will carefully wrap any over-used cell phones/ipods in a beautiful pink silk and lovingly set them aside for a rest period as necessary.

Uniforms

Uniforms were handed out at practice today.  To ensure your uniform's long and healthy life, please ...

• Wear your uniform only for races (not practice, not as an underlayer, not as pajamas)
• Wash your uniform inside out, and wash without anything velcro in the same load
• Keep your uniform away from contact with all velcro (jackets, gloves, etc.)
• Return clean uniforms at the end of the season

Thanks!

Telstar Race

On Saturday, January 4, there is a freestyle (skate) relay race at Telstar in Bethel.  Teams are made up of 2 girls and 2 boys.  Entries for this race are due this weekend, so we need to know who wants to go.

Please tell either John Tarling or Susan BY THIS FRIDAY if you are interested and able to be in this race.  In order to get our entries in and figure out our teams of 4, we need to hear from each skier asap.

Because of the relay format, this is a fun race to take part in.  Since this is the weekend right at the end of vacation, we also know everyone may not be able to attend.  Everybody should consider themselves encouraged but not pressured to join in.

Pineland Passes AND PRACTICE INFO

A ski pass to Pineland is included as part of the team fee.  Be sure to tell Susan if you are getting a family pass instead and won't be part of the team pass.  If you are getting a family pass, your team fee will be reduced by $45.  Pass application forms were given to the students today and need to be completed, signed by a parent, and returned to Susan by THIS Friday, December 13.

 BRING ROCK SKATE SKIS tomorrow (Wednesday) - John thinks we may be able to ski!

2013-2014 Nordic Season Kick-Off

Welcome to the start of the 2013-2014 Nordic Season!

Practice starts Monday, December 2.  Practices will be Monday - Thursday at Pineland, approximately 3:00 - 4:30.  There will be a late van for regular van riders.  Friday practices will be "captains' practices", meaning that the coach will not be there, but kids are encouraged to practice either on their own or with other team members.  We expect enough kids will stay to practice on Fridays that we will still have a late van.  If that changes, we will let all families know.

This week, because the high school will be at Desert Rd on Thursday afternoon, ski practice may be at Desert Rd instead of Pineland.  Stay tuned for a final decision.

DRYLAND EQUIPMENT:

Poles (for hill bounding these can - and ideally should - be shorter than those used for skiing)

Roller skis (only if you have them - don't go out and purchase if you don't have them)

Ski boots

Running shoes

Water bottle

Snack

Note: poles, roller skis and boots can be brought to school and stored in the corner of the Sage Room.

DRYLAND APPAREL:

Athletic apparel appropriate for the weather ...

Running tights or shorts

Non-cotton shirt

Windbreaker jacket

Hat

Gloves

Dry/warm clothes (long pants, warm jacket) for late afternoon - it gets COLD

Dress in layers, even for practice

John Tarling - COACH OF THE YEAR!!!

Huge heartfelt congratulations to our wonderful coach, John Tarling, for being named Portland Press Herald's Coach of the Year.  While we've always known he's amazing, it's with great joy that we now see his public recognition.

!!!Well done John!!!

Click here to see article - Read to the bottom

Nordic Team End of Season Party

Tuesday, March 5

7:00 pm

Community Hall

Appreciations

Cake and Coffee

Slideshow

Note: If there is/are parents or skiers who would like to make the cake, please let me know! Otherwise we can pitch in and buy one.

Official End of Ski Season

The school ski team season is official over now that the States Meet is in the past.  Pineland passes are still valid and we have new snow, so everyone is encouraged to keep skiing.

There will be no school organized late afternoon transportation back to Desert Rd, but feel free to organize yourselves.

Great season everyone!

* Return CLEAN uniforms to Susan *

*** Be sure to read the Season Wrap-Up Note from John below ***

Season Wrap-Up Note from John

It is hard to believe the HS Ski Season has finished. As promised I will try to summarize the WMC Championships and the State Class C Championships. I could do so by simply writing SWEEP, as that is just what the Boys' and Girls' Teams did at both events in winning both overall championships at season's end.

The WMC has long been considered the premier ski conference in Maine and shows how far the team has improved to win the event. The girls' team has won the State Class C races before, however it was the first win for the boys' team, completing a fantastic season overall. Even with such stellar results, and in setting a high mark that will be difficult for future teams to surpass, it is not just results that define a successful season. The 2012/13 team started out the ski season focused and prepared to work for their goals. Through the dryland training period of cold, often wet, days in the fall they did the necessary bounding, running and strength training needed with few complaints. The Christmas camp this year provided mid-winter conditions, allowing for great early season skiing as well as the chance to spend time together. For me, ski seasons often have defining events that have a lasting impression - this year getting hopelessly stuck in snow after a long day skiing says much about this team. They all saw the humor in the predicament and turned to shoveling, pushing and tugging together to free the van and cars stuck in the snow. Even after this and a long day of skiing, they rallied to go for a night ski on a very cold and windy evening.

A few result highlights from WMC and States are the overall team improvements, especially by Lars, Zach, John, Lily and Carlin - all had highlight races at season's end that helped raise the bar for the team. Samantha and Graham also had fine results and finished in the top 10 in these final races. The seniors finished out their last year just as they have all along, by leading the team with their hard work and great spirit. Teagan, Emelie and Zoe have had great HS careers, starting out as three unknown freshman winning second at states, then three-peating the State championship, which is quite an accomplishment. Ben and Jack both had very good results when it mattered most, helping the boys' team with their first State title and WMC championship. The entire girls' team really dug deep to win at the WMC when Zoe became ill after winning the opening WMC skate race and then missed the classic race. The races in Presque Isle for this year's States gave the team a chance to race in a new venue. The County is a special place and offers landscapes totally different from what we see in Southern Maine ... but clearly the change didn't rattle our team!

A special thanks to the school staff for supporting the ski team this year and all the parents who helped out at the races - waxing, cooking, driving, lugging gear, cheering, etc. - without such help it would not be possible to make the team work. Thanks to Jennifer, Jason, Carol, Keelyn, Susan and Jeff for making things work all year as well as on the trips.

Thanks,

John

STATES

BOYS AND GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

WOOOOO!! Thank you John!!

States Results - Day 1

Check the results tab for day 1 results from States Meet in Presque Isle!

We're here!

We have arrived safe and sound in Presque Isle. It's beautifully snowy here and we're glad we came tonight. Nighty night...
zzzzzzzzzzz..........

*****TRAVEL PLANS...We are leaving as close to 6:30pm as we can. Boys - you will be staying for one night only in a different house that will have to vacated by 9am Sunday. You might wear your pjs and have your toothbrush handy so your bags don't need to be unpacked. *****

States Trip 2013

Presque Isle here we come!!!

Departure: SATURDAY, 6:30 from Desert Rd.

We'll be staying in Arndt's Aroostook Cabins - Riverview and Tamarack Cabins adjacent to the Nordic Heritage Center.

Arrival at the Nordic Heritage Center: 2:00. Wear your ski clothes - the team will ski upon arrival.

Bring:  

LUNCH DINNER and snacks for the van ride
Pre and post race bars/food for the two race days - whatever works for you
food item donated by your family****

sleeping bag and pad if you don't want to share a bed
toiletries including sunscreen if you use it

cabin shoes if you want to wear shoes inside
post/pre race comfy clothes
pjs

uniform
underlayers
overlayers
team fleece
VERY WARM COAT
gloves
race gloves
hat / headband
sunglasses
lots of warm socks
snow boots - optional
snow pants - optional

classic skis
skate skis
warm-up skis
classic boots
skate boots
classic poles
skate poles

games if you want - there is no pool table

Schedule:

Saturday - arrive near 11 and go to sleep!
Sunday - boys vacate house by 9, ski, wax, etc.arrive and ski, settle in, dinner, pre race prep
Monday - 7:30 breakfast, 1:30 boys, 3:00 girls - CLASSIC
Tuesday - 8:30 breakfast, 3:00 boys, 4:00 girls - SKATE
Wednesday - clean-up, depart by 9:30ish to arrive back between 2 and 3 to Desert Road

See new WAX INFO tab for - you guessed it - Wax Info!

WMC Championship Results

Check the Results tab for all WMC Championship Results!

Wax Info for Tuesday

From John:

Just received the note below from BNS. I do not have great confidence in the forecast as today is colder than yesterday's forecast for today. If the temps are as forecast tomorrow it would help to go a wax warmer than we have, going to LF/HF 10 Swix or the Ski Go recommendation below. I do not think staying with the LF/HF 8 would be wrong and if it is cooler than forecast it might be better. Either way well prepped skis are going to be fast! The kick will be a challenge, if we can not find a good hard wax we will move to klister (see the note regarding hairies).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Coaches-

Well, we wanted snow and we got it! Who knew we would be cancelling races repeatedly because of snow! Below please find the wax recs for conference championships. Let us know if you have any questions.

  

WMC-

Forecast from noaa.gov:

• TonightSnow and sleet likely before 1am, then a slight chance of snow between 1am and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• TuesdayPartly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Glide is easy. SkiGo HF Yellow crushes it in these conditions. Covered with C22 Liquid and you will have lightning on your feet....which brings us to kick. Ugh.

I’m thinking it will be straight klister, but there is a chance something like SkiGo HF Yellow or Start RF Yellow kicker will work. For klisters it should be the same as above. Or hairies.

How to make hairies: Start with a clean kick zone and sand it fairly aggressively with 100 or 120 grit sandpaper. I like to make small circles down the ski and then back up. Repeat this twice. Put on SkiGo c22 liquid, just enough to spread it out with your fingers, and then ski it. If you need more kick repeat the process but go a bit more on the sanding.

Roger Knight

Monday Race rescheduled

Due to the expected weather, today's classic race at Fryeburg has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 12.  Race time 2:00 PM.  There is practice today at Pineland.

Fryeburg Info for Monday - Classic Race

Wax note from John:

Monday's weather in Fryeburg - high 34-36F, snow, sleet, rain - perfect!  For glide, base graphite or hard wax, scrape and brush out well, race Glide LF or HF 8 Swix or equivalent, scrape and brush well.  Be sure to clean kick zone of any wax, sand and wipe clean.  Make sure to have kick zone marked on each sidewall of both skis.

Please bring a pair of skis to warm up on, waxed with hard wax such as ski go red or swix 60 or any wax for around 32 F.  We will start with a cold hard wax and work from there.  It is possible we could end up with klister if we get rain or the tracks become glazed, so having a kick zone marked for hard wax and klister helps.

Thanks,

John

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More info:
Click HERE to see start lists.

Fryeburg coach suggests visitors bring snowshoes, as it may be messy.